GENE artist studio/gallery

STATEMENT

Our biggest fear is to risk to be alive and express who we really are. And that is why I choose to be an ‘artist’. As an artist, I choose to not only be alive, but create actual evidence of life itself, creating something only I can. Not earn or receive an existing something, but create from within, regardless of the fears that also come with that bold statement of ‘I am’.

BIO

Born and raised in Southern California, artist GENE’s art reflects both pride in his Mexican-American roots, as well as his family’s history in settling Southern California. With vibrant energy and vivid colors jumping from the canvas, GENE draws inspiration from simple movement and the beauty of the human form, capturing the energy and rhythm of the moment, individual and whole. GENE’s images evoke not only the motion of the body, but also the intangible movements of the wind, atmosphere, energy and the music that make up the dance of life.
GENE has a lifelong fascination with the Samurai, the ancient code of the Bushido and Asian art. His training in Shodo, Zen line art and Chinese calligraphy, as well as animation, are apparent in the fluid line and ephemeral nature of his images.

GENE allows the painting to come forth, working intuitively and spontaneously, to let what is seeking form to emerge. As an artist, he strives to portray “the human spirit at play.”

Over the past 20 years, GENE has shown and sold his energetic art in New York, Miami, Portland and throughout Southern California in solo and group gallery show. He has sat and interviewed to date such world leaders as Desmond Tutu, Dr. Deepak Chopra and Marianne Williamson among others to comprehend the meaning of peace. GENE has been a creative director for multi-million dollar fashion brands, music entertainment and action sports television along with teaching and mentoring college students into emerging artists for the past 15 years.

His current ongoing projects include painting ancient beings of this planet, as well as multi-dimensionally, several comic book series of his own creation, his own personal street fashion brand and continued portrayal of the human form in paint and photography.

GENE graduated from the University of Redlands in 1993 with a BA in Graphic and Fine Arts and earned an MFA in Media Design from FSU. He was a professor of art for ten years at the University of Redlands, a creative producer for action sports television, a street fashion creative art director and is an award winning multi-media designer, fine artist and photographer.

He lives in Orange County, California with his wife and two children, establishing his renowned personal studio/gallery as the heart of Historic Downtown Santa Ana’s famous Artists Village.

EXHIBITIONS/SHOWS/COMMISSIONS

Artist in Residence, GENE, Artist Studio/Gallery, ‘Artists Village’, Downtown Santa Ana, 2015 - Present.

‘Taos Arts Insurgency’ - June 18- August8, 2020, Greg Moon Gallery, Taos, NM.

“The Faculty Show”, Univ. Redlands, CA, 2008, ’09-‘15.

“A Night with 24 Peaces”, Costa Mesa, CA, 2010. Solo featured performing artist.

"Dancing with Paints", Los Angeles, CA, May 10, 2008, Featured Performing Artist with Caitlyn Carradine.

Assunta Fox Gallery, Laguna Beach & Santa Ana – CA, August 2008 to Present, Featured Artist

Lopressionism Gallery, Melbourne – FL, Jan - March – 2007 Featured Artist in Group Exhibition: “Bodies of Art”

Agora Gallery, Soho & Chelsea – New York, NY July 2005 – 2006, Gallery Artist & Group Exhibition - “Delineation of Form”, January, 2006.

Alberta Street Art, #100, Portland, OR - October 2005, Solo Featured Artist at The Corner Gallery

Blue Sky Eickholt Gallery, Greenwich Village, New York, NY August 2005 Featured Artist

Thrillz, An Art Event, Los Angeles, CA, June 2005, Featured Performing Artist.

Avante Garden Gallery – Santa Ana, CA, October 2004 – 2008, OCFA Residing Artist, Featured Artist – 1/05, 10/05, 9/06, 8/07

EDUCATION

Masters Fine Arts, Media Design - Valedictorian.
FullSail University, Florida: September 2011.

Bachelor of Fine Art & Graphic Design
Univ of Redlands, Redlands, CA: May, 1993.

Neuro-linguistics Programming Certified
Kona University, December 2011.

OutDoor Experiential Leadership Facilitator Certification
Challenge U, December 2008.

Traditional Animation, History and Techniques.
The American Animation Institute, 2003

AWARDS

Board of Directors, DTSA, Downtown Santa Ana ‘Artist Village’, (2019-present)

Creator of '24 Peaces’ project includes large scale energetic paintings of 24 prolific peacemakers from around the globe paired with a documentary film. Participants include: Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Dr. Deepak Chopra, Marianne Williamson and the Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith, et al.

Fellow for the Royal Society of Arts, London(2012)

Creative Activist for the Creative Visions Foundation, Malibu, CA (2012-2015)

Presidents Commission Committee for New Technology, Univ. of Redlands, CA (2013-15)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

FREELANCE ARTIST & DESIGNER - June 1993 - Present

UNIVERSITY OF REDLANDS, Art Department Faculty - MAY 2006 - May 2016

FUEL TV, FOX SPORTS Network, Sr. Creative Producer -
July 2006 - August 2008

CHALLENGE-U, Certified Ropes Course Facilitator - May 2003 – June 2007

HOOKT.com - Director of Creative Development - April, 2000 - May 2001

JNCO Jeans, USA - Creative Director of Design
January 1996 - March 2000

TAGS

energeticart, artisthestoryofus, artofgene, artistgene